If you’re surprised by Trump’s support from evangelicals even in the midst of his complete mishandling of the current pandemic, bear this mind. At the outset of the HIV/Aids epidemic that ravaged and stole the lives of so many young (and older) men, Jerry Falwell, the evangelical preacher and mouthpiece of the Moral Majority had this to say, “AIDS is not just God’s punishment of homosexuals, it is God’s punishment for the society that tolerates homosexuals.”

Don’t forget to remind your family and friends that Barack Obama is making a commencement speech to the graduating class of 2020 tonight. Some networks and media sites are carrying it. The contrast between the former president and the current one will be stark and unmistakable. Thus the speech to a national audience will be a political event, even if that isn’t its intention. Obama will likely mention the devastating and deadly impacts of a pandemic as well as the growing crisis of governance that exists, as a result of lies, decisions, and actions of Trump and his Republican enablers.

Bravo to Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats for passage of a much needed 3 trillion dollar stimulus bill. Both McConnell and Trump say its “dead on arrival.” No surprise. They have made the calculus that the House bill would delay the reopening of the economy, which, in their twisted view, is bad for their election chances as well as “business.” That the forced resumption of economic activity will result, according to experts, in the unnecessary loss of untold number of lives is a bargain that Trump and McConnell are ready to make. In fact, they are eager, to make. Can you think of anything more callous, cynical, and macabre?

There seems to be a lot of consternation over the refusal of much of the leadership of DSA and Jacobin magazine, or at least its editor, to support Joe Biden. I have to admit it bothers me a bit, but a good glass of wine or beer takes me to a better place.

Seriously though, I keep in mind that neither one nor the other, nor both taken together are any more than a sliver of the broad band of young people who are tacking in a progressive and left direction and will vote for Joe Biden come this fall.

The growing anti-democratic and authoritarian actions (not tendencies) of the Trump administration, Republican Party, and right wing extremist media and base is more than worrisome. One day thugs, toting guns and egged on by Trump, invade state capitals and threaten governors if they don’t open up their state, even if it is premature and likely to result in more deaths. On another U.S. Attorney General William Barr is withdrawing the Justice Department’s case against the already convicted Michael Flynn. On still another day, it is Jared Kushner, the avatar of white male privilege and the president’s son in law, suggesting that the November elections might have to be postponed. And the list could go on and on.

But as dangerous as all this is, it is less a sign of strength than a reflection of a weakening of Trump’s support on the one hand and a strengthening of the opposition against Trump on the other.

Here’s the deal.

Trump’s approval in poll after poll on a range of matters is slipping significantly, triggered no doubt by his total mishandling of the deadly pandemic, an imploding economy, and the stealing away of the lives of so many Americans. The death count is approaching 100,000 and in a month it will likely be well beyond that.

Even seniors who supported Trump 4 years ago, according to recent polling, have turned on him. It’s one thing to collude with Putin, but quite another to play Russian roulette with their lives. Too close to home for them to ignore or rationalize.

And when it comes to comparing Trump against governors, using the metric of how well each has addressed the pandemic, he fares poorly.

All this has stolen Trump’s reelection narrative of a booming stock market and economy that, he believed, would carry him over the finish line come election day. Is it any wonder why panic is rippling through the White House and Republican circles?

While this is going on, we are seeing, not surprisingly, growing support in recent polling, including in battleground states, for Joe Biden. Even Texas and Georgia appear up for grabs this fall.

What is more, the various wings of the Democratic Party are uniting in support of Biden and a progressive platform, including a science based and comprehensive approach to the Covid-19.

So while there is reason for alarm, there is also cause for hope. Momentum isn’t completely on our side, and it never will be as long as Trump is in the White House, Republicans a majority in the Senate, and Trump acolytes occupying powerful positions in the government, not least the Supreme Court.

Nevertheless a shift is afoot and shouldn’t be lost sight of. It positions the Democratic Party and the larger democratic coalition to win in November and redirect the country towards greater democracy, equality, economic recovery and security, and global cooperation.

It’s by no means guaranteed, but the makings of a such victory and an about face in the country’s direction are easier to see now than they were only a few months ago.